The Ubu's Other Shoe staged reading series presents 'August: Osage County' at SLO Little Theatre 

Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning family dramedy, August: Osage County, is making its Ubu’s Other Shoe debut at the SLO Little Theatre. Originally premiering at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, the play went on to successful Broadway and international runs, followed by a 2013 film version.

Anet Carlin of the late, lamented Brickyard Theatre will direct, significantly upping the chances of some envelope-pushing interpretations within the limits of the staged-reading format. Starring Ubu’s Other Shoe Artistic Director Michael Siebrass and veteran SLOLT director (including the recent Ubu’s Other Shoe presentation of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance and last fall’s mainstage production of Incorruptible), among others, the show is shaping up to be a SLOLT cast of thousands … which should make for a fun dynamic in this highly dysfunctional family tale. The lack of full production values isn’t likely to distract too much from this very talky script, and if you find yourself pining for a fully immersive, suspend-your-disbelief kind of experience, you can always go home and Netflix the film afterwards.

August: Osage County plays Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at 7 p.m., with a talk-back following the show on Friday evening. For tickets and more information, visit slolittletheatre.org or call 786-2440.

Flower Pepper Drum Song

If San Luis Obispo is the Paris of the Central Coast, sometimes you have to go south to speak Breton—Neal Breton, that is. The benevolent dictator of the loose Savages collective is headed down to Pasadena to participate in a show at Flower Pepper Gallery, curated by Savages member and (also late, lamented) Vale Fine Art’s third annual Group Show co-star Walt Hall. Dubbed Summer Flies, the show will also include Breton’s Fiasco Gallery partner Jeff Claassen, along with several other artists. We’re officially in vacation season, so if yours includes a stop in Old Town Pasadena, be sure to check out Flower Pepper Gallery for a little glimpse of home.

Summer Flies runs from June 28 through July 25, with an opening reception on June 28 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Flower Pepper Gallery is located at 121 East Union St. in Pasadena. Visit flower-pepper.com or call (626) 795-1895 for open hours, appointments, and more information.